Milking hose support

ABSTRACT

A milking hose support comprising a frame adapted for supporting a milking hose, the frame having a hose coupler located on a side and adapted for supporting a milking hose; a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge and connects the frame to the hinge; and a first flat bar, wherein the first flat bar is coupled to the hinge assembly, and extends away from the frame, wherein the hinge permits a variable angle of rotation between the frame and the first flat bar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/236,539, filed Sep. 19, 2011, for MILKING HOSE SUPPORT which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a milking hose support and more specifically to a milking hose support having a hinge to permit rotation between a floor (“deck”) of a milking parlor and a frame of the milking hose support.

BACKGROUND

Dairy farming has been an important aspect of agriculture for thousands of years. Traditionally, dairy animals were hand-milked by a milker (“dairyman”) sitting on a stool. Milk was expressed from a dairy animal's teat by the dairyman by squeezing the teat, then moving the hand downward from an udder towards the end of the teat. This action was repeated, using both hands for speed. Milk trapped in a milk duct was squirted out the end of the teat into a bucket supported between the knees of the dairyman. Milking often took place in a field where the dairy animal was tethered to a post, leaving the hind of the animal unrestrained.

An increase in world population has created a demand for more efficient milking methods and has led to the commercialization of dairy farming. There are now fewer, but larger and more efficient dairy farms, operated by fewer workers. Large scale dairy farming methods include milking sheds (“milking parlors”) with machines to maximize the output of dairy animals and minimize physical stresses on dairymen and dairy animals. Efficient milking through the use of milking machines often minimizes time a dairy animal spends in a confined stall, and maximizes time spent in a field grazing.

Modern dairy farms include milking parlors, a specialized area on the dairy farm where milking is performed. Milking parlor layouts include rotary, parallel, flat barn and herringbone milking parlors. A rotary milking parlor is a raised rotating platform where the dairy animals stand on the outer edge of the platform. A parallel parlor is a raised milking platform where the dairy animals stand perpendicular to the operator pit and the dairy animals are milked from the rear. A flat barn milking parlor is an area for milking where the dairyman is on the same level as the dairy animal. A herringbone milking parlor is a milking parlor in which dairy animals stand side-by-side, angled towards a pit.

Milking machines are utilized in milking parlors to extract milk. A milking machine applies a continuous vacuum to the teats, causing accumulation of fluids (“congestion”) in teat tissues. Air is admitted into a pulsation chamber to allow a liner to collapse around the end of the teat and relieve congestion in the teat tissue, resulting in milking. Four teatcups are attached to the four teats of a dairy animal. Four milk hoses from the teatcups are combined in a milking claw and transported to a bulk tank, in a central milk hose.

It is often difficult to keep a milking claw centered under a dairy animal's udder during milking. Dairy animals often move during milking, making stationary supports for centering milking claws under a dairy animal's udder undesirable, in that a stationary support cannot move with the dairy animal. A stationary milking hose support may also protrude vertically upward into a milking parlor, making it difficult for a dairy animal to enter and exit the milking parlor. A dairyman's tasks may also be impaired by a stationary milking hose support extending vertically upward.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A milking hose support comprising a frame adapted for supporting a milking hose, the frame having hose couplers located on a side and adapted for supporting a milking hose is presented. The milking hose support provides a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge and connects the frame to the hinge, and a first flat bar, wherein the first flat bar is coupled to the hinge assembly, and extends away from the frame. The hinge, in accordance with one embodiment, permits a variable angle of rotation between the frame and the first flat bar. The milking hose support, in some variations, includes a mounting assembly for coupling to the deck of a milking parlor. The mounting assembly, in some variations, comprises a second flat bar for mounting on the deck of the milking parlor, and a flat bar connector for connecting the first flat bar and a second flat bar. The first flat bar, the second flat bar and the flat bar connector may, in some variations, be composed of stainless steel. The mounting assembly is, in some variations, adapted for coupling to a milking parlor such as a rotary milking parlor, parallel milking parlor, flat barn milking parlor, and herringbone milking parlor. In accordance with one variation, the hose coupler is generally cylindrical in configuration. In accordance with one variation, the frame includes a hose coupler on both lateral sides for supporting the milking hose. In accordance with one variation, the frame includes a hose coupler on the left lateral side for supporting the milking hose. In accordance with one variation, the frame includes a hose coupler on the right lateral side for supporting the milking hose. The hinge assembly, in accordance with one embodiment, allows the milking hose support to fall flat onto a deck of a milking parlor when not in use. The hinge assembly, in accordance with one embodiment, allows for an angle of rotation of the frame such that a milking claw is centered under an udder of a cow during milking.

In one embodiment, a frame adapted for supporting a milking hose, the frame having a hose coupler located on a side, and maintained in a generally vertical orientation by engaging a central milk hose extending from a milking claw is presented. The milking hose support provides a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge and connects the frame to the hinge, and a first flat bar, wherein the first flat bar is coupled to the hinge assembly, and extends away from the frame. The hinge, in accordance with one embodiment, permits the frame to fall onto the deck of a milking parlor in a substantially horizontal orientation when the central milk hose extending from the milking claw is removed and disengages from the hose coupler. The milking hose support, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a mounting assembly for coupling to the deck of a milking parlor. The mounting assembly includes, in some variations, a second flat bar for mounting on the deck of the milking parlor and a flat bar connector for connecting the first flat bar and a second flat bar. The first flat bar, the second flat bar and the flat bar connector may, in some variations, be composed of stainless steel. The mounting assembly is, in some variations, adapted for coupling to a milking parlor such as a rotary milking parlor, parallel milking parlor, flat barn milking parlor, and herringbone milking parlor. In accordance with one variation, the hose coupler is generally cylindrical in configuration. In accordance with one variation, the frame includes a hose coupler on both lateral sides for supporting the milking hose. In accordance with one variation, the frame includes a hose coupler on the left lateral side for supporting the milking hose. In accordance with one variation, the frame includes a hose coupler on the right lateral side for supporting the milking hose. The hinge assembly, in accordance with one embodiment, allows the milking hose support to fall flat onto a deck of a milking parlor when not in use. The hinge assembly, in accordance with one embodiment, allows for an angle of rotation of the frame such that a milking claw is centered under an udder of a cow during milking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front unassembled elevational view of a milking hose support according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear unassembled elevational view of the milking hose support of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the milking hose support of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the milking hose support of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the milking hose support of FIG. 1 in use according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There is a need for a milking hose support with a hinge, which provides a variable angle of rotation between a frame for supporting a milking hose and a milking parlor deck so as to center a milking claw under an udder during milking, and automatically fall flat onto a milking parlor deck after a milking claw is removed and milking is completed.

In accordance with some embodiments, a milking hose support having the ability to support a central milking hose extending from a milking claw, so as to center the milking claw under the udder of a dairy animal during milking and move with the dairy animal is provided.

In accordance with some embodiments, a milking hose support having the ability to automatically fall flat onto the deck of a milking parlor in a substantially horizontal orientation when a central milk hose extending from a milking claw is removed and disengages from a hose coupler on a frame of the milking hose support is provided.

In accordance with some embodiments, a milking hose support having the ability to fall flat onto a deck of a milking parlor when not in use is provided.

In accordance with some embodiments, a milking hose support having the ability to be attached to a wide variety of milking parlor decks and to be custom fit to a particular milking parlor deck is provided.

In accordance with some embodiments, a milking hose support having the ability to allow a dairy animal to enter and exit a milking parlor is provided.

In accordance with some embodiments, a milking hose support having the ability to allow a dairyman to carry on milking tasks unimpaired is provided.

Referring now to FIG. 1, shown is a front unassembled elevational view of a milking hose support 10, including a frame 12 having a hose coupler 14, a hinge assembly 16 having a hinge 18, a first flat bar 20, and a mounting assembly 22 comprising a second flat bar 24 and a flat bar connector 26.

The hinge assembly 16 is attached to the frame 12 and the first flat bar 20. The hinge assembly 16 includes the hinge 18. The frame 12 includes a hose coupler 14. The mounting assembly 22 includes a second flat bar 24 and a flat bar connector 26 having channels for connecting the first flat bar 20 to the second flat bar 24.

In operation, the hose coupler 14 of frame 12 receives a central milking hose extending from a milking claw, the hinge 18 of the hinge assembly 16 allows for an angle of rotation between the frame 12 and the first flat bar 20 mounted to a deck of a milking parlor. The second flat bar 24 and flat bar connector 26 of the mounting assembly 22 allow for mounting onto to various milking parlor configurations. Once assembled, the first flat bar 20 and the second flat bar 24 are mounted to the deck of the milking parlor and are connected by the flat bar connector 26 by sliding the first flat bar 20 and the second flat bar 24 into the channels of the flat bar connector 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, shown is a rear unassembled elevational view of the milking hose 10 support of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, shown is a left side elevational view of the milking hose support 10 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, shown is an assembled perspective view of the milking hose support 10 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, shown is an assembled perspective view of the milking hose support 10, showing a central milking hose 28, a milking claw 30, a dairy animal 32 and a milking parlor deck 34.

The central milking hose 28 is attached to the milking claw 30, and the milking claw 30 is attached to the dairy animal 32. The hinge assembly 16 is attached to the frame 12 and the first flat bar 20. The hinge assembly 16 includes the hinge 18. The frame 12 includes a hose coupler 14. The mounting assembly 22 includes a second flat bar 24 and a flat bar connector 26 having channels for connecting the first flat bar 20 to the second flat bar 24.

In operation, the hose coupler 14 of the frame 12 of milking hose support 10 receives the central milking hose 28. The central milking hose extends from the milking claw 30 attached to the dairy animal 32. The first flat bar 20 and second flat bar 24 are mounted to the milking parlor deck 34. The hinge assembly 16 permits a variable angle of rotation between the frame 12 and the first flat bar 20, and permits the frame 12 to fall onto the milking parlor deck 34 in a substantially horizontal orientation when the central milking hose 28 extending from the milking claw 30 is removed and disengages from the hose coupler 14.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1-33. (canceled)
 34. A hose support apparatus comprising: a frame coupled to a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including a hinge; a first flat bar coupled to an end of the hinge assembly distal to the frame; and a mounting assembly coupled to an end of the first flat bar distal to the hinge assembly, wherein the frame includes at least one hose coupler on a side, the hose coupler configured to wedgingly receive a generally horizontal hose when the mounting assembly is mounted to a floor and the frame is generally perpendicular to the floor.
 35. The hose support apparatus of claim 34, the mounting assembly comprising a second flat bar coupled to a flat bar connector, and wherein the flat bar connector is coupled to the first flat bar.
 36. The hose support apparatus of claims 35, wherein the second flat bar is mounted to the floor.
 37. The hose support apparatus of claim 35, wherein the flat bar connector includes channels configured to slidingly receive the first flat bar and the second flat bar.
 38. The hose support apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second flat bar and the flat bar connector comprise stainless steel.
 39. The hose support apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first flat bar comprises stainless steel.
 40. The hose support apparatus of claim 34, the frame including at least one hose coupler on an opposite side.
 41. The hose support apparatus of claim 34, the hinge assembly configured to permit a variable angle of rotation of the frame when hose is received by the frame.
 42. The hose support apparatus of claim 34, the hinge assembly configured to cause the frame to fall flat to the floor when the hose is disengaged from the hose coupler.
 43. The hose support apparatus of claim 34, wherein an end of the hose is supported by a milking claw coupled to a cow.
 44. The hose support apparatus of claim 34, wherein the hose coupler is generally cylindrical in configuration.
 45. A method of using the hose support apparatus comprising the steps of: mounting a mounting assembly of the hose support apparatus to a floor, the hose support apparatus further comprising a first flat bar coupled to the mounting assembly, a hinge assembly coupled to an end of the first flat bar distal to the mounting assembly, the hinge assembly including a hinge, a frame coupled to and end of the hinge assembly distal to the to the first flat bar, the frame including at least one hose coupler on a side, wherein the frame lies flat on the floor; rotating the frame upwards from the floor so that the at least one hose coupler is positioned to receive a generally horizontal hose; and receiving the hose in the hose coupler.
 46. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 45, the mounting assembly comprising a second flat bar coupled to a flat bar connector, and wherein the flat bar connector is coupled to the first flat bar.
 47. The method of using a hose support apparatus of claim 46, wherein the second flat bar is mounted to the floor.
 48. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 46, wherein the flat bar connector includes channels configured to slidingly receive the first flat bar and the second flat bar.
 49. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 46, wherein the second flat bar and the flat bar connector comprise stainless steel.
 50. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 45, wherein the first flat bar comprises stainless steel.
 51. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 45, the frame including at least one hose coupler on an opposite side.
 52. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 45, the hinge assembly configured to permit a variable angle of rotation of the frame when the hose is received by the frame.
 53. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 45, further comprising the step of: disengaging the hose from the hose coupler, whereby the frame falls flat to the floor.
 54. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 45, wherein an end of the hose is supported by a milking claw coupled to a cow.
 55. The method of using the hose support apparatus of claim 45, wherein the hose coupler is generally cylindrical in configuration. 